IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Lane, BECCLES, NR34 0DD

See > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337060 for a view of the church

The southern section of St Mary's churchyard. For a view of the church see > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337060 .

St Mary's church > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337060 - which at some time in the past was dedicated to St Peter - is situated about 2 kilometres from the centre of Burgh St Peter village, on the edge of Burgh Marshes > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337013. All traces of a chapel that once adjoined it have disappeared. The church is believed to stand on an ancient site which has been used as a place of worship for at least 1000 years. The unusual pagoda-style tower > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337079 serves as a mausoleum to members of the Boycott family, many of whom are buried in the sealed brick vaults at its base storey. Interestingly, the involvement of one of the Boycotts - Charles Cunningham Boycott (1832-1897) in the Irish 'troubles' in the mid 19th century resulted in the introduction to the English language of the word 'boycott'. Another unusual feature of this church is its great length > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337107 which is further enhanced by chancel and nave being of the same height. The thatched roof dates from the 15th century but was restored after a fire in 1998. The north and south doorways date to around 1200. The octagonal font > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337122 is C14 but both pulpit and rood screen > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337098 are more recent. This church is open every day.

St Mary's church > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337060 - which at some time in the past was dedicated to St Peter - is situated about 2 kilometres from the centre of Burgh St Peter village, on the edge of Burgh Marshes > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337013. All traces of a chapel that once adjoined it have disappeared. The church is believed to stand on an ancient site which has been used as a place of worship for at least 1000 years. The unusual pagoda-style tower > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337079 serves as a mausoleum to members of the Boycott family, many of whom are buried in the sealed brick vaults at its base storey. Interestingly, the involvement of one of the Boycotts - Charles Cunningham Boycott (1832-1897) in the Irish 'troubles' in the mid 19th century resulted in the introduction to the English language of the word 'boycott'. Another unusual feature of this church is its great length > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337088 - http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337107 which is further enhanced by chancel and nave being of the same height. The thatched roof dates from the 15th century but was restored after a fire in 1998. The north and south doorways date to around 1200. The octagonal font > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337122 is C14 but both pulpit and rood screen > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1337098 are more recent.

This view shows the unusual stepped brick west tower built around 1800. This is a listed building id: 1304545 http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1304545 . Parish church. Fabric mainly early C14 with C16 tower base and nave roof. Entry on Norfolk Churches website: http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/burghstpeter/burghstpeter.htm

By the 18th century the original tower was in ruins so a local family, the Boycotts, had their own stepped tower built onto the base in order that the church also became their family mausoleum. It is the Boycott family who gave the word boycott to the English language after a member of the family became shunned by everyone following an attempt to enforce rent rises in Ireland.

The brick section was built in 1793 and intended as a mausoleum for Rev Samuel Boycott. The remainder of the church is 14th century. Many interesting features.